Cathedral to Host Celebration of Life Service for World Central Kitchen Humanitarians
WASHINGTON – An interfaith Celebration of Life service will be held at Washington National Cathedral on Thursday, April 25 at 11 a.m. ET to remember the seven World Central Kitchen humanitarians killed in an Israeli military strike in Gaza while on a food mission.
The memorial service will honor Saifeddin Issam Ayad Abutaha of Palestine; John Chapman of the U.K.; Jacob Flickinger of the U.S. and Canada; Lalzawmi “Zomi” Frankcom of Australia; James Henderson of the U.K.; James Kirby of the U.K.; and Damian Sobol of Poland.
Remarks are expected from chef José Andrés, founder World Central Kitchen; the Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean of Washington National Cathedral; and other religious leaders. A wide range of U.S. dignitaries and senior officials from the home countries of each victim are invited to attend the service.
“People of all faiths, all gods, together under one roof will be able to hold our heroes in their hearts at the National Cathedral,” said chef José Andrés, founder of WCK. “Saif, Zomi, Damian, Jacob, John, Jim, James, your families are far away from D.C., but we are sending our love and respect to all corners of the world.”
All media wishing to cover the service must request press credentials from the Cathedral in advance by filling out the form at this link. All requests for credentials are due by Tuesday, April 23 at 12 p.m. ET, and determinations for these requests will be made on Wednesday, April 24. The Cathedral will also have an HD livestream of the service at this link, which all media are free to use with credit to Washington National Cathedral.
The service will be by invitation-only, and only those with tickets will be authorized to attend. All safety measures will be followed to ensure the health of the staff and guests in attendance. Members of the press must register at this link to request press credentials to be considered for access to the service.
“Our Scriptures tell us there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends or for those in need,” said The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, dean of Washington National Cathedral. “We are honored to open the doors of this Cathedral so the world can come together to honor the sacrifice of these seven brave souls and pray for an end to the war that took their lives.”
World Central Kitchen is a humanitarian nonprofit founded in 2010 by Andrés to provide food relief in response to humanitarian, climate and community crises. The organization has provided more than 350 million meals worldwide.
World Central Kitchen is one of the few aid organizations that was able to deliver food in Gaza during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, providing more than 43 million meals, sending in more than 1,700 supply trucks and opening 68 community kitchens.
“We’ve learned through our work that in times of great tragedy and grief, coming together to share stories, embrace and pay tribute is extremely powerful,” said Erin Gore, CEO of WCK. “The National Cathedral is opening its doors to our community to do just that—unite, heal and honor the selfless lives of our heroes and their families.”
The Cathedral is located at 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW, near the intersection of Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues NW.
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MEDIA CONTACTS
Ari Geller, 202-689-4985, [email protected]
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About Washington National Cathedral
Grounded in the reconciling love of Jesus Christ, Washington National Cathedral is a house of prayer for all people, conceived by our founders to serve as a great church for national purposes.